Combination printing press



- Aug. 18, 1931. E. LA BOMBARD l-:T AL v 1,319,751

COMBINATION `PRINTING PRESS Aug' 18,1931 l.. E, LA BoMBARD E'r AL 1,819,751

COMBINATION PRINTING PRESS mam W 2 08m 6. Ao m W m ecm. o W M5 m I/H/- N 0E .MM m 0. Mh h m L, J ,w m

QN NN Aug. 1s, 1931.

LVE. LA BOMBARD ET AL COMBIINATION PRINTING PRSS Filed June 14, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet `3 Alla .18, 1931. l; LA BOMBARD ETAL 1,819,751 .coMBlNATIoN PRINTING PRESS Filed June 14', 1929 5. Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 18, 1931.-

L. E; LA BoMBARD E'r ANL 1,819,751

COMBINATION PRINTING PRESS Filed June 14, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 1,8, 193

UNITED srars esta s.' LA Bemelen, 0F wirmem, Mmm-rvu@ einer@Tenvi; oruse@aviser,-V MAssAcHUsETTS, Assrenons Tosrncenrr eUTcivrLeiTrcMrgcMrNn COMPANY, on; CHELSEA, MASSACHUSETTS, A coupon-Tron or MASSACHUSETTS" coMisIiiATioiv PRI'TING? r'enssL Application filed 51111614;

` This inventionrelates to'printing presses,

of rotary type, and has particular reference tomachines Which employ a variable multip'licity of type forms or plateS,1-usually dii-'- 51 plicateforms Yor plates, for printing a trav-- elling web o-paper.- Y

In such machines, When'the form-carrying cylinderrotates' continuously at `constant speed and the web of paper' is advanced at uniform speed, any plurality of forms carried'vby the cylinder must be equally spacedaround itsentire circumference in' order to make uniformly spaced impressions'` cn VVthe web.4 It; arporton ofthe cylinder is un- Y occupied by forms,thev v eb will `have undesirableblank spaces. When such a machine is-us ed for printinglabels on a Web of paper which is to be later cut to provide separate labels, the uri-printed areas not only mean Waste of-paper but also increase the chfliculty;l ofproperlycutting the web to provide the desired separate labels.' The sameiobjection exists in connection with the printing otnfiajny articles other than labels.

That-is known asan all-size rotary press" consists of mechanism'which will print uniformly spaced areas on a-Webregardless of lWhether or not the entire circumference of the"printingfcylinder is occupied by -forms or plates, butsoffar asWe are aware, no such press has been commercially successful. And what is known as a standard or plain type of rotary press comprisesl mechanism in which the entire` circumLerenceV of the printing cylinder carries plates or forms and efeetscontinuous printing on the Web.

One-ofthe objects of the'presentinvention istofprovide a Web` rotary press which: com# bines the utilities of both ot the above-meuf tionedtypes, in that it can be used either as alstandard orcontinuous'press, or as an all-k size rotaryv Webk press. y

A nother object is to provide a fvvebeprint` ing rotary press `capable o1"A making equal?` 45 spaced impressionson a Web of paperregar Vless of the'circumferential area ofthe print-` ing cylinder that is Qccupied'by plates or orms.," v-

Another object Aisto provide animproved rotary press having; means for varying the Ymechanism as 192e.;u 'serieu Naarmate;

Web is started atl the slowest speed of the@ cylinders andcontinues to travel at tlief'jspeedI of the cylinders throughout the length of the feed.-

Another object is to provide an improved rotary press having means for obtaining accurate eedingflengthsof the iveb by moving the web a slight `distanceai'ter the major feedfand printing operations are completed and While the cylinders feeding:"mech`.VV anism are reaching` position to repeatff the printing. Y

With the above-mentioned objects inrvieyv, andothers hereinafter explained, the inven; tion .consists in theconstruction and combi nation'of parts substantially. as hereinafter described and claimed.

Of thefaccompanying drawings:

Figures 1 and f2 are, respectively,sidev elevation and a plan view of so linuchof the V is necessary toillustrate our invention:v s. f

Figure 3 represents a sectionon line 3 5-3: of Figure 2 andloolingjin the oppositedi# rection from'F-igure l. Figurell'is a-:vievv similar V'tol aport'ion'of'V Figurel, on a larger scale,. andf Witli the casingor boxv covers r'emovedl f 'i l y Figure 5 isa detail perspectvevievv of; the,pavvlfcarrier.y` Y. Y ,f

Figure represents a section on line 6 6 oiliigureV W Y,

Figures 7, 8, 9 Vand l() are,l respectively; sections on lines 7e-7,' 8-8, 9--9"and`10."-.l0v of'Figure 4s Y' v Figure Il is a detail"perspectivevievviiol a portion offoneof the gears illustrated iii FigurejlO.- l, 'j

Figure l2fis a detail perspective"view` cfa lug and paWl member hereinafter described. Similar reference characters designate similar parts lor features in all'of the-Views The frame yor support for the operating mechanism ,of the press is illustrated `as comf sfo Mounted on'fone'of the Wall imembers 2l 95 prising a base20 and sidef.ivall'castings 21r other casing 24 having a removable cover 24. This casing 24 encloses the mechanism for obtaining the variable speed of the shaft 52 as hereinafter described, and will be referred to as the variable Vspeed control box.

From a supply roll not necessary to illustrate, a web of paper P to be printed is drawn in the direction of the arrows (Figures 1, 2 and 3) between upper and lower cooperating printing cylinders 26, 27, the shafts of which have interme'shing gears 28. As any usual inking mechanism may be employed, illustration thereof is omitted.

A bevel pinion 29 carried by the shaft 30 of the lower cylinder 27 meshes with a bevel pinion 31 carried by shaft 32 which extends through the box 22 (Fig. 4) and into a bearing 33, and carries a gear 34. A constant speed shaft has a gear 36 (Figs. 3, 4 and 7) meshing with an intermediate gear 37 which, in turn, meshes with and transmits motion to the gear 34 and itsshaft 32.

The shaft 35 extends into the box 24 (Figs. 4 and 6) and is supported in ball bearings 38, and carries a gear 39 meshing with a pinion 40 carried by shaft 41. The shaft 41 has a large sprocket 42 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) connected by sprocket chain-43 with a sprocket carried by the shaft ofa motor 44.

The shaft 35 does not extend through the box 24 as a straight member, but has an off-set or crank or eccentric portion within said box. The said eccentric or crank portion comprises a short shaft 45 (Figs. 4 and 6) one end of which is mounted in the gear 39 eccentric to the axis of the latter, the other end of said eccentric crank shaft 45 being supported by an arm 46 the shaft member 35 of which is supported by a ball bearing 47 in the wall of the box 24.

Mounted on the crank shaft 45 is a gear 48 meshing with a pinion 49 mounted idly on a shaft 50 supported by 'arms 5l which are hung on an upper shaft 52. The pinion 49 meshes with a gear 53 secured to they shaft 52. Mounted on the crank shaft 45 at one side of the gear 48 is a pitman or link 54 the upper end of which embraces the swingingly-supported shaft 50 which carries the intermediate pinion 49. The purpose of the gearing just described and particularly illustrated by Figures 4 and 6 will be explained hereinafter. Said gearing is capable of being included with the other parts of the machine, or thrown out of gear therewith, by the mechanism which will now be described.

The shaft 52 is in line with the vshaft 32 but separate therefrom as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 4. Secured to the end of shaft 52 is a clutch Vdisk 55, and projecting from the gear 34 which is carried by the 'shaft 32, is a clutch disk V56. Between the two clutch disks 55, 56, a clutch sleeve 57 is mounted on the shaft 32 so as to rotate therewithV but shiftable thereon along the space between the two clutch disks. A lever 58 is pivotally supported by the frame at 59 and has a roll 60 engaging an annular groove 61 in the clutch sleeve. By means of said lever the clutch sleeve may be shifted to interlock with either the disk of the shaft 52 or with the disk 56 of the shaft 32 to effect a change inthe operation of the machine as hereinafter described.

Inside the timing box 22 and secured to the shaft 32 is a spiral gear 62 (Figs. 4, 9 and 10) meshing with a spiral gear 63 secured to a hub or sleeve 64 mounted on a shaft 65 suitable bearings for which are provided'in the rear wall and the front cover of the said box 22. Splined on thev shaft 65 adjacent to the hub 64 is a ratchet wheel 66 on the hub of which is loosely mounted a wheel comprising a gear-toothed portion 67 and a peripherally smooth rim 68. The arms of said wheel are illustrated at 69 in Figures 4 and 9. A

The hub 64 has an arm 70 (Figs. 5, 9 and 10) the upper end of which is widened as at 71 and carries bearing blocks 72 for the trunnions of a rocking member (Fig. 12) having Aa pawl 73 and a lug 74. The pawl 73 coacts with the teeth of ratchet wheel 66 as hereinafter described, and the lug 74 is adapted to cooperate with a lug 75 projecting from the rim of the gear 67 (Figs. 4 and 11). The

said rocking member is so mounted, fricy tionally, as to remain in either one of the positions to which it is rocked in operation as hereinafter described. Y

Mounted in a stud 76 (Figs. 8, 9 and 10) projecting from the cover 22 of the timing box is a sleeve 77 having a handle or thumb knob 78 secured to its outer end and a pinion 79 splined on its inner end, said pinion meshing with the gear 67 A pin 80 having a washer 81 at one end and a nut 82 at the l other end retains the parts in their relative adjusted positions illustrated by Figure 8.

Mounted in bearings provided in the rear wall and front cover of the timing box 22 ilo is a rockshaft 83 (Figs 4 and 10) having j an arm 84 under the ratchet wheel 66, said arm carrying a pivoted trip 85 normally pressed upward by a spring 86, said trip being in the path of rotation of the lug 74.

The rock shaft 83 projects rearwardly from the box 22 (Fics. 3 and 10) and hassecured thereto a lever`87the lower end 'of which is engaged by a cam 88 carried by the shaft 35, said cam serving to time the Voperation of the trip 85 as hereinafter described.

t The shaft 65 extends through the rear wall of the timing box (Figs. 3 and 9) and has secured thereto a ratchet wheel4 89 and a gear wheel 90.V A lever 91, pivoted at 92, has a roll 93l at its lower end actedupon by a cam 94 carried by the shaft 35', the uption illustrated by Figures 1 and 4 so that 'the variable speed mechanism just referred 'to is included operatively, and assuming that only one-third of the periphery of the cylinder 26 is occupied by printing plates, the pinion 79 (Fig. 8) Will be turned by the knob 78 so that the gear 67 `Will be adjusted to cause its lug to occupy the position indicated in Figure 4, and the press then started. Both the printing cylinder and the feed roll Will rotate at the same surface speed as long as the printing forms contact With the Web. After the last form has made its impression, the lug 75 will be in such position that the lug 74 `(Figs. 4 and 12) contacts with it and rocks the paWl 78 up out of contact with the ratchet Wheel 66. This disconnects the drive from the feed roll 97 and the latter is stopped by its brake 103. The printing cylinders continue to rotate until they reach their slowest speedof rotation due to the described mechanism in This causes the feed roll 97 to start revolv-V ing at the same surface speed as the printing.

cylinders. The trip 85 is rocked by the c am 88 acting on the lever 87 to Which a spring is connected, so that said trip moves to and from position to act as just described once for each cycle of operation ofthe printing cylinder. VThe paWl trip lug 75 is removably connected With the gear 67 by any suitable mounting not necessary to illustrate. To enable the machine to operate on aWeb traveling at continuous speed, it is only necessary to remove the lug 75, and then the paWl 73 remains constantly in engagement with the ratchet 66.

' To produce accurately spaced Work, We Aemploy what We term a'step feed mechanism Which includes the brake r101 and the ratche et Wheel 89, and the pawl 95, its lever 91, and the cam 94. VIf the paper web is to be advanced 20 inches because the plates or forms mounted on the printing cylinder occupy that much of the circumferential area of said cylinder, and effect printing during eachfrotation or cycle of operation, the gear 67 Will be rotatively adjusted so that its lug 75 will occupy a position to coact With the lug 74.0f the rocking member in the manner which has been explained, to result in stop-V ping the feed roll. Such adjustment is made that the feed roll will be stopped 1/8 of an inch short ofthe `20 inches desired.

'The brake 101 prevents over-throw vof thev ister, consequently 'the feed is stopped, as just explained, after 19 land V'7/8- inches of paper is fed and While the printing cylinders and the pawl ,73 are completing their cycle. Then, timed to operate during the VsloW speed of travel of the cylinders, the

cam 94 acts on the lever 91 to cause the pawl 95 to advance the ratchet 89 and, through the gearing and connections described, cause the periphery of the feed roll to be advanced 1/8 of an inch, thus completing the 20 inch feed desired.

Having now described our invention, We claim 1 ,A Web-printing rotary 'press having printing cylinders and Web-feeding mechanism, means for accelerating and reducing the speed of operation of said cylinders and feeding -mechanism during each cycle of printing operation, and means for imparting a slight advance movement to the Web prior to the start of each successive cycle of printing operation.

2. A Web-printing rotary press having Web-feeding mechanism and having means for driving the printing and Web-feeding mechanisms at continuous speeds, said press including means for driving the printing and feeding mechanisms at varying speeds during each cycle of operation.

3. A Web-printing rotary press having Web-feeding mechanism and having means for driving the printing and Web-feeding mechanisms at continuous speeds, said press having means for stopping the web of paper during each cycle of operation.

4. A Web-printing rotary press having Web-feeding mechanism and having means -for driving the printing Vand Web-feeding mechanisms at continuous speeds, said press having means for stopping and starting the Web of paper and the printing mechanism during eachv cycle of operation.

5. A Web-printing rotary press having Web-feeding mechanism and having mea-ns for drivingthe printing and Web-feeding mechanisms at continuousspeedasaid press having means for starting and stopping the printing mechanism during eachV cycle of operation;- Y y 6. A Webeprinting and rotary press having Web-feeding mechanism and having means for driving the printing and Webfeeding'mechanisms at continuous speeds, said press having means for varying the speed of travel of the Web of paper during each cycle of operation. f l

7. A Web-printing rotary press having Web-feeding mechanism and having means for driving the printing` and Web-feeding mechanisms at'continuous speeds, said press having means for varying the speed of the printing cylinder` during each cycle of operation. f'

.8. A Web-printing'rotary press having web-feeding mechanism and having means for driving the printing and web-feeding mechanisms at continuous speeds, said press including means for driving the printing and feeding mechanisms at varying speeds during each cycle of operation and also including two alternatively operative sets of gearing for controlling said speeds.

' 9. A web-printing rotary press having web-feeding mechanism and having'means for driving the printing and web-feeding mechanisms at continuous speeds, said press including means for driving the printing and feeding mechanisms at varying speeds during each cycle of operation, said machine including two alternatively operative sets of gearing and a shiftable clutch mechanism for controlling said speeds.

In testimony whereof we have affixed our signatures.

LEON E. LA BOMBARD. MELVIN H. SIDEBOTHAM. 

